Refrigerator construction



June 9, 1942.

'r. w.' R UNDELL REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jul so, 1940 5 3 if, iJ. I v 7 w i Q J J m m M w W F W Z 1 W /W Patented June 9, 1942REFRIGERATOR. CONSTRUCTION Theodore W. Rundell, Jenkintown, Pa.,

by mesne assignments,

Philadelphia, Pa., a co vania assignor,

to Philco Corporation, rporation of Pennsyl- Application July 30, 1940,Serial No. 348,593

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cabinetconstruction for domestic refrigerators and more particularly to novelmeans for joining together the ends of the breaker strips generallyemployed to provide thermal insulation between the edges of therefrigerator cabinet casing and lining shells at the front of therefrigerator.

When fiat breaker strips are used in a domestic refrigerator cabinet itis necessary that the separate lengths or sections of the breaker stripbe joined along their adjacent end edges by a device which will overlapthe end edge portions of adjacent breaker strip sections and at the sametime secure said sections relative to each other. It is equallyessential that such a device be of simple construction and of neatappearance so as to harmonize with the attractive design and appearanceof present day domestic refrigerators. The foregoing is particularlytrue in the case of refrigerator cabinets having flat breaker strips theseveral sections of which are disposed in a common plane providing afiat front surface surrounding the opening to the food storagecompartment of the refrigerator.

With these observations in mind, the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a device in the form of a novel clip elementwhich may be einployed to join together the edges of adjacent breakerstrip sections and secure said sections relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip element of thecharacter set forth which is relatively easy to install and which has aportion arranged to outwardly overlie the outer surface edge portion ofadjacent breaker strip sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip element of thecharacter set forth which may be readily installed without the use ofscrew fastenings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel clip element ofthe type set forth which is neat and attractive in appearance and ofrelatively simple construction, being relatively inexpensive tomanufacture. v

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction thereof are hereinafter fully set forth andshown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a refrigerator cabinet, thedoor thereof having been removed to show the invention.

lower left hand cornerof Figure 1 with the clip removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a clip element embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on line 5--5, Figure 1.

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of the sections of a two part clipelement made according to the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a view in section taken on line 88, Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawable heat insulating material5 (see Figure 3).

In the particular cabinet illustrated, the inturned front flanges of thecasing 3 and lining 4 which surround the door opening to the foodcompartment 2 reside in substantially the same vertical plane and thespace between these edges is closed by the usual breaker strip 6 whichprovides a fiat front surface surrounding the aforesaid door opening.Preferably the breaker strip 6 is composed of heat insulating materialand comprises a plurality of independent sections, one each for thesides, top and bottom of the cabinet about the opening to the foodstorage compartment.

As shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, these sections of the breaker strip6 are secured in place by flanging the front edge portion 1 of thecasing 3 to provide an inturned channel 8 to receive the outer edge ofthe breaker strip sections and by providing a substantially S-shapedclip 9 having oppositely facing channels arranged respectively toreceive the other or outer edge of said breaker strip sections and theinturned flange portion I!) of the cabinet lining 4.

It will be observed that the sections of the breaker strip 6 do notextend the full depth of the casing recesses thus provided so that abreaker strip section Figure 2 is a large fragmentary view of the may bemounted merely by inserting the outer edge thereof into the recess 8 farenough to enable the S-shaped clip 9 on the inner edge to be engagedover the said lining flange ID in the relation shown in Figure 3 of thedraw- 8 and suificient clearance is ing. In order to bias the breakerstrip section and its S-clip firmly against the edge of the liningflange ID a series of bow springs or the 4 rounding the food storagecompartment opening and consequently there is a gap or break in thecontinuity of the breaker strip intermediate each such section thereofadjacent the four corners of the cabinet front face. This likewise istrue of the S-clips 9 with the result that this gap at each comer of thecabinet front face between adjacent breaker strip sections and theirS-clips presents a decidedly unfinished appearance as shown in Figure 2of the drawing.

'Hence it is necessary in order to provide a finished appearance to thecabinet front face, that a'suitable device be provided for joiningtogether the adjacent sections of the breaker strip so as to close thegaps therebetween and at the same time secure said sections againstlongitudinal movement relative to each. other, and in accordance withthe present invention for this purpose I provide a novel clip element llcomprising a breaker strip connecting portion l2 and a portion l3 forconnecting and overlying the adjacent portions of their s-clips 9 (seeFigure 4).

The breaker strip connecting portion l2 of this clip H is substantiallyH-shaped in cross section throughout the greater portion of its lengththus providing oppositely facing longitudinal recesses ll for engagementwith the edge portions of adjacent breaker strip sections.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, the upper surface of the clipelement is flat and overlies the outer surface of the edge portions ofadjacent breaker strip sections while the portions l5 of said clip IIwhich engage beneath said edge portions of said breaker strip sectionsare of concave-convex cross section configuration thereby providing amore firm engagement of the clip with the said edge portions of theadjacent sections of the breaker strip 6.

On the other hand, the portion i3 of the clip and provide a connectionbetween the end portions of the S-clip members 9 carried by adjacentsections of the breaker strip 8 as shown in Figure l of the drawing.Too, the engagement of this yoke portion I 6 over the members 9 providean interlock between the clips and the refrigerator cabinet structurewhich serves to secure the clips against displacement from theirconnecting position between the adjacent breaker strip sections 6.

To install the clip II it is only necessary to slidably insert said clipinto the gap between adjacent sections of the breaker strip 6 with theedge portions thereof in engagement with the oppositely facinglongitudinal recesses ll of the clip portion [2 as shown in Figure 5 ofthe drawing, the clip being pushed inwardly in this manner until thearcuate channel l6 of the clip portion I3 is in position to be engagedover and connect the adjacent end portions of the breaker the gapbetween adjacent sections of the breaker strip 6, it may be desirable toform the clip element in sections, for example, such as shown in Figures6 and 7 of the drawing, wherein the breaker strip connecting portion iscomprised in one section I21: and the arcuate inverted channel forengagement over the ends of the S-clip members 8 of adjacent breakerstrip sections is comprised in the other section I30.

In this form of the invention the breaker strip engaging section l2alikewise is of H-shape cross section throughout the greater portion ofits length and is inserted and connected between adjacent sections ofthe breaker strip 8 in the same manner and relation described inconnection with the clip 8 shown in Figure 4 of the drawing.

As shown in Figure l of the drawing, the sections I211 and Na comprisingthis form of clip are arrangedto slidably telescope one anotherv and forthis purpose the'width or height of the recesses Ila is slightly greaterthan in the case of the clip 8 in order that the neck ll of the arcuatechannel section a may slidably telescope over the external or topportion of the section i2a as shown in Figure 8 of the drawing. [Ininstances where the breaker strip sections are arranged so that they areangularly disposed, for example as shown at the two lower corners of thecabinet in Figure 1 of the drawing, the

' inner ends of the clips may be pointed as at I! From the foregoingdescription it will be seenthat the present invention provides a breakerstrip clip which may be employed effectively to join together with eachof the adjacent breaker strip sections and secure said sections relativeto each other. Also, the clip is of relatively simple construction, easyto install, and of especially neat and attractive appearancecommensurate with the attractive design and appearance of present dayrefrigerator cabinets. Furthermore, the clip of the present invention isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture and may be employed in conjunctionwith a breaker strip assembly without the use of screw fastenings.

While certain embodiments of the present in- -vention have been hereinillustrated and detogether and securing the end edge portions f adjacentbreakerstrip sections, said clip comprising a breakerstrip engagingportion of substantially H-shape in cross-section along at least aportion of its length inserted between adjacent breakerstrip sectionswith the end edge portions of the later engaged in the oppositely facingrecesses formed by the H-cross-section shape of said clip portion, and ayoke portion of inverted channel cross-section shape interlockinglyengaged over the trim strips at the inner edges of the breakerstripsections to secure the clip against displacement from between adjacentbreakerstrip sections.

2. In a refrigerator having spaced inner and outer shells, breakerstripsections closing the space between said shells, and means securing saidbreakerstrip sections to the shells including trim strips extendingalong the inner edges of the breakerstrip sections; a clip connectingtogether and securing the end edge portions of adiacent breakerstripsections, said clip comprising a breakerstrip engaging portion ofsubstantially H-shape in cross-section along at least a portion of itslength inserted between adjacent breakerstrip sections with the end edgeportions of the latter engaged in the oppositely facing recesses formedby the H-cross-section shape of said clip portion, and a yoke portion ofinverted channel cross-section shape slidably telescoping with thebreakerstrip engaging portion and interlockingly engaged over the trimstrips at the inner edges of the breakerstrip sections to secure theclip against displacement from between adjacent breakerstrip sections.

3. In a refrigerator oi the type described having an outer shell, aninner lining, said shell and lining having spaced front edge portionslying substantially in the same plane, breakerstrips extendingperipherally about said inner lining and bridging the space between theedged portions of said shell and lining, means securing thebreakerstrips to the outer shell, and means including trim stripsserving to hold said breakerstrlps to said lining, said trim stripsbeing configured to provide a raised surface extending forwardly of saidbreakerstrips; a clip member securing the end edge portions of adjacentbreakerstrips, said clip member comprising a; breakerstrip engagingportion of substantially H-shaped cross-section along at least a portionof its length constructed and arranged to receive the opposite edgeportions of adjacent breakerstrips within the recesses formed by itsH-shaped cross-section, and said clip including a yoke of invertedchannel cross-section shape arranged to engage over the raised surfaceprovided by said trim strips to secure said clip againstlongitudlnal'displacement from engagement with the breaker-strips.

4. A clip of the character described comprising an elongated bodyportion and an arcuate yoke portion at one end thereof, said bodyportion being substantially H-shape in cross-section for at least aportion of its length and providing at opposite sides thereof laterallyfacing outwardly opening channels, and said arcuate yoke portion beingof inverted channel shape in crosssection with its opposite end portionsextending laterally beyond the side edges of the body portion.

5. A clip of the character described comprising an elongated bodyportion and an end portion telescoping slidably with the body portion.facing outwardly opening channels, and said end portion embodying anarcuate yoke of inverted channel shape in cross-section having itsopposite end portions extending laterally beyond the said body portionbeing substantially H-shape in and providing at opposite sides thereoflaterally cross-section for at least a portion of its length side edgesof the body portion.

THEODORE W. RUNDELL.

